How do you fix Apple Mail to sort folders in alphabetical order?
MacBook Pro (2017 – 2020)
I have had this issue with Apple mail for a long time. Never found a proper answer for how to make Apple mail go back to sorting folders in alphabetical order. I realized from a couple articles that if you manually re-order your folders, the application switch is from automatic alphabetical, ordering to manual sorting
First, quit Mail.
From the Finder, Select Go > Library > Mail
Find the directory entitled "V_". It will be a number like "V5" or "V9" etc.
In that folder will be a series of other directories with long names — letters and numbers. Each representing a different email account.
You will need to look inside each to see which one is the right account.
Once you are in the correct directory, do the following keystroke: "Command + Shift + ." {Note: that last one is a period}. This will allow you to see hidden files.
Find the file ".mboxCache.plist" and rename it — ex. ".mboxCache_backup.plist" — so you are not deleting it.
Then, just open up Mail again. Ta da! Back to sorting alphabetically.
Thanks.
How exactly I remove the account and add it back ?
Tried to turn off from iCloud and on again
Tried to rebuild.
Nothing to solve the issue.
ps. in my iPhone mail app everything is fine.
Well. YOU DID IT !
It's OK NOW.
Thank you so much for this solution.
I'm keeping this procedure for future purpose.
Thank you so much, this has worked!
Worked perfectly to get my folders back in line... thanks
Bless you stumpjumper. I waited years for an answer to this.
Thank you for this! I have had this issue on and off for ages and glad to have the steps to fix it so clearly laid out.
Hire this man! Not only did he provide an easy to follow solution, but he relayed his previous findings as to why this issue occurs. Well done stumpjumper! Thank you.
That worked like a charm! I was in the process of manually resorting the hundreds of folders I have when I came across your solution. Saved me a ton of time. Thank you!
Library is not an option when I hit Go. I have Sonoma 14.5.
Hold the OPTION key
Amazing that a corporation like Apple cannot repair this problem!
You are my hero!
Thanks from Italy
I just came across the answer to this by trial and error 5 minutes ago.
Create a new master folder. ie: if the master folder is "Clients", then make a new folder at the same level as that one and call it something similar, like "Clients 2". Then simply select all the folders in the "Clients" folder and drag them (move) them to the "Clients 2" folder. They will all appear in alphabetical order now. Make sure you don't have any emails in that master folder, if so, then drag them over too. Check that it's empty, and then simply delete the original one and rename the new one to the original's name.
Hope that helps!
Frankly if a company the size of Apple cannot fix this irritating deficiency in their Mail app then I will rather use another 3rd party app. Using this and that workaround should not be required. Apple please fix this problem!!
How to sort Apple Mail folders in alphabetical order
